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Why are Volcanoes Always Interesting Science Experiments for Elementary Students?

When it comes to science experiments for elementary students, the volacano seems to always be there somewhere on the list.

Some people could say the volcano science fair project has been over done and is not as interesting as other science experiments for elementary students, and it might be true, but for some reason kids just love doing it.  Besides how cool it is to see the “lava” come out of the hole,  I think italso  is because there is the additional fun of  making the “volcano.”

Here are some thoughts and ideas  for the volcano science experiment

One important  part of  science experiments for elementary students is how easy it is to gather the materials.  For a volcano project, the ingredients are so simple, you probably already have them at home: baking soda, vinegar, food coloring (optional, for effect),  2 bottles, like water bottle size with lids, and a funnel that does not tip over when you put it in the bottle. Then you just need the materials for making a mountain to use for the “eruption.”

What you essentially do is add vinegar to baking soda and witness the chemical reaction as it “explodes.”  The food coloring makes it a little easier to see and is cool on top of that.  You would practice first with just the ingredients and your kitchen sink, or an outdoor table if it is a summer time fun family project. Keeping lids on the bottles while you are getting everything set will prevent accidental tips and spills.

Then you also need science experiments for elementary students that are not too complicated for kids to make, with minimal parent help.  With the volcano projcet that means  making the mountain.    You basically use the height of the bottle as your guide, and build around it. The hole of the bottle top will become the volcano top and the mountain goes down from there.
Paper-mâché works well with a cardboard box frame underneath with the box sides cut open and spread  out to form the base.  When it is dry, painting and sealing with a couple coats of decoupage will do the trick.  You do not want the liquid “lava” to  get to raw paper, paint or cardboard!  If you need a paper-mâché  lesson click here!  Just remember to plan for time to let the stuff  completely dry!
Quart and pint or half-gallon ice cream containers can be used by building them up and then you just tape them in place.  The peak would be an upside down container where you can put your bottle and cut a hole the size of the bottle opening.
Clay is always an option to use for building this thing and kids like to get their fingers in it. Again you can use anything as a base and build the clay on top of it.
Scrap wood can be used, to build a base, but you run into the problem of flexibility, it does not move so well, and, supervision with nails and screws and tools.  I’ve seen kids use twigs and small branches they found in the woods and balance them together in a teepee shape,  like you do to start a fire, and then use clay or paper-mâché or to make the mountain.

In reality, you give kids some cardboard, scissors, duct tape and plastic bottles and the kids will take it from there in coming up with ideas of how to make this mountain. Throw the torn up newspaper for paper-mâché and you will be totally set for fun. Building the volcano is usually is the most fun part of the project, even though the lava spouting out is pretty cool when it is all done.

 

There are other great demonstration science experiments for elementary students that kids can do for a science fair project that are just as fun and just as easy and will teach you some great science along the way. Often you will find that the demonstration projects are great because of the WOW factor, and because they are usually done in front of a class or small group, and not an all school science fair, so they can be less stressful.  As for the kids in the class watching, there will be a wide range of interesting science fair projects to see, that the whole class can enjoy without the yawn factor kicking in.

Imagine alka-seltzer  and liquids……   Find the details at the Watch This! projects  at 24 hour science projects where quick and easy demonstration projects are kid tested and teacher approved.

 

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